March 8, 2015
Final Stats| Photo Gallery by Michael Patrick Reese
UTEP 12, MTSU 2 [5]
EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP softball team broke out with the brooms and completed a three-game sweep of Middle Tennessee. The Miners (6-19, 3-0 Conference USA) defeated the Blue Raiders (9-8, 0-3 C-USA), 12-2 in five innings, in the series finale on a sunny and clear Sunday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
The 3-0 start in league play is the first since the 2010 season when the Miners won three in a row against Marshall on March 13 and 14. It's only the third time UTEP has started 3-0 in conference play - 2008 being the other season.
It was no contest as UTEP jumped out to a 5-1 lead after the first frame. Tahla Wade led off with a walk, while advancing to second on a Jade Rodriguez sac-bunt. A pitch then hit Kawehiokalani Netane, setting up Ashley Eldridge's at bat. The senior outfielder smacked a three-run blast over left center - her third of the season. Courtney Clayton walked after the second out was converted, setting up a Kiki Pepi at bat. The sophomore transfer nailed her second long ball of 2015, a two-run dinger over left field.
In the second, two more runs were tacked on as Netane connected on a double to deep center, plating Rodriguez and pinch runner Morgan Rasmason.
Middle Tennessee got another run on the board during the third, but the Orange and Blue used another five-run inning, this time in the fourth to put the game away.
Clayton tallied two RBI on a double to right center - Eldridge and Netane scored. Pepi then singled to the shortstop, setting up Kaitlin Ryder's at bat. The freshman blasted her first collegiate home run, a three-run smack over the center field.
"We got key hits from players who really needed those hits," Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "Kaitlin Ryder coming up with a home run, Courtney Clayton with a double, and Kiki (Pepi) with her home run. It's the kids who were struggling as of late stepped up today and it was nice to see them find success and play a key part in our win."
Danielle Pearson, who started the game, was taken out due to a minor injury. A ball was lined straight to her leg. Before the injury, Pearson found herself in a jam in the first frame with bases loaded with one out, but forced a groundout and a fly out to get out down only 1-0.
Kaitlin Fifield finished the game, pitching 2.2 innings, with two Ks and one walk. The sophomore earned her third victory of the season - second of the weekend, including a save on Saturday night.
The Miners didn't commit any errors on Sunday, while only committing one all weekend. Wade also made a great catch over her head, against the fence in center during the fifth, helping Fifield tally outs.
"Defense was solid again today," Echo-Hawk said. "We made some great plays; Tahla's last catch in the outfield was the icing on the cake for our defense this past weekend."
Netane and Pepi each recorded two hits, while Wade, Rodriguez, Eldridge, Clayton, Garcia and Ryder each added a knock.
Up next
UTEP will host Big 12 program Texas Tech in a doubleheader on March 11, starting at 1 p.m. MT.
